Everything You Need to Know about Jack in the Green
What do the Jack in the Green celebrations involve?
According to the Jack in the Green (JitG) website: “The long weekend event includes live bands, dancing, sun (not guaranteed) and social events, fun for all the family! The main event, on Bank Holiday Monday, is the colourful procession through the streets of Hastings Old Town filled with unique characters, dancers, drummers, giants and more. The big finale on the West Hill is the slaying of the Jack to release the spirit of summer.”
This also coincides with a huge motorbike and scooter run: The Hastings Mayday Run.
Is it an ancient or modern festival?
Not as old as you might think. Some JitG customs originated in the 17th century as part of the spring/May Day celebrations. Milkmaids would carry milk pails decorated with flowers and silverware, and over time these were replaced with decorated headdresses. Chimney sweeps created garlands, becoming bigger and bigger until, in the 18th century, wooden frameworks of greenery and flowers covered an entire man.
JitG was first documented in a description of a London May Day in 1770 and became popular all over the South of England during the 19th century.
Groups in Hastings and St Leonards paraded a Jack in the Green until about 1889 when Victorian disapproval of the bawdy and anarchic celebration led to it being replaced by the more sedate May Queen festival.
JitG was revived in Hastings in 1983 by Mad Jack’s Morris side, now known as Hastings RX Morris (a reference to the RX on the Hastings fishing boats).
Who or what is ‘Jack’?
Some theories:
- A pre-Christian Green Man or fertility symbol.
- The embodiment of the spirit of spring, who must be slain to release the spirit of summer.
- A “very ancient figure” who represented “the Summer itself, the very old bringer-in of the time of plenty”.
The Hastings Jack consists of a wooden or wicker frame covered in woven foliage, including green branches, rhododendron leaves and flowers.
What happens to Jack on Bank Holiday Monday?
10.15am-12.00pm: He is released from the Fishermen’s Museum and serenaded by the Hastings RX Morris Women. He leads a procession up All Saints Street, across The Bourne and down the High Street where there is a pause for dancing and drumming performances.
12.00pm-4.00pm: The procession goes up Croft Road and along Collier Road to The West Hill. Jack goes on stage and welcomes his followers. On the West Hill there’s music, drumming, dancing and stalls with food and drink.
4.00pm Jack is ‘slain’ to release the spirit of summer. Leaves from his costume are distributed to the crowds to bring luck.
Who are the other characters taking part?
Sal: Jack’s consort, milkmaid with a flower garland who leads him through the streets.
The Bogies: Jack’s 12 green-faced attendants dressed in rags and leaves. They carry green face paint to daub on people who aren’t green enough!
Morris dancers: RX Morris (local male and female group in blue, gold and red), Hannah’s Cat (all-female group named after the mummified cat in the Stag pub) in pink and purple, plus various other Morris sides and dancers of all kinds.
Also: a big man with a drum, various giants (Mollies), milkmaids, sweeps, lords and ladies, drumming groups and more …
See our Listings section for details of all the Jack in the Green events between 3 and 6 May or visit hastingstraditionaljackinthegreen.co.uk for more information.
We hope you have enjoyed reading this article. The future of our volunteer led, non-profit publication would be far more secure with the aid of a small donation. You can also support local journalism by becoming a friend of HIP. It only takes a minute and we would be very grateful.
Leave a Reply